4.5 Stars
I had read another cozy mystery from another series by this author recently and I loved the writing style and character development so much, I had to get my hands on another of her works. What can I say? I loved this cozy too! Although this book is part of a series, it's the first I've read of the Sherlock books and it can easily be read as a stand-alone (but I'll go back and read the others soon). The MC channels Sherlockian behavior thoroughly and the setting and other characters are extremely enjoyable. The writing flows well and at a steady pace and, unless you're paying close attention, the guilty party was not evident. If you are in the mood for a cozy and haven't read this author, I strongly recommend one of her series, especially this Sherlock Holmes/Doyle one or the Tea By the Sea series.

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I gave the Sign of Four Spirits by Vicky Delany 5 stars

When a psychic fair arrives in West London, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, wants nothing to do with it. But somehow, at the urging of Donald Morris, an enthusiastic Sherlockian, she finds herself talked into attending a séance, along with baker and best friend Jayne Wilson, store assistant, Ashleigh, and former pop star Bunny Leigh.

But to her surprise, Gemma finds herself banned from the séance and shown the door. Curious, she listens in from outside the room. The medium informs a disappointed Donald that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be able to make it tonight. Then, Gemma hears a voice cut off, a cry for help, a scream. Gemma bursts into the library to see that someone has collapsed on the table--dead. The windows are all locked, and Gemma was guarding the only door. Someone in this room is a murderer. But who?

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This series just keep on getting better! This might be my favorite so far. The premise was superb and so was the mystery. The séance part was really fun to read about, and it captured my attention right away in the beginning and kept it all the way until the end.

I had a hunch on whodunit, but I wasn't convinced. But, this is not a cozy mystery I read solely for the mystery. There are some great characters in this series and I keep on picking up books to read more about them.

A great new installment to a great series. This is really suitable for fall/Halloween based on the theme with séances, so I highly recommend you pick it up.

This book comes out Jan 09

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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absolute gem. The easiest coziest read and I'm happy to have read it among other cat mysteries. Loved our main character who ties to step out of her famous relatives shadow and to prove herself , that she can stand on her own two feet. The writing was flowy and its a page-turner and I will be 1000% sure to pick up the other books in the series.

I think this is another great edition to the series! The characters remained true to form and I felt that I was right in the middle of the action. The ending wasn't easy to figure out ... the author kept you guessing. The only downside to this book for me personally was that I still find the main character, Gemma, a little standoff-ish but I think it is intentional as that is how Sherlock Holmes would act. I do like how the author makes her more human with her interactions with her policeman boyfriend.

Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery book #9

Gemma Doyle, co-owner and manager of “The Sherlock Homes Bookshop and Emporium loves to turn into an amateur sleuth in her spare time and can’t help but to poke her nose where it doesn’t belong. “The Sign of Four Spirits” brings us to West London, Cape Code, Massachusetts during the tourist season when a psychic fair is about to open. Thinking they are a fraud, Gemma doesn’t believe in fortune tellers and mediums but with much probing by her friends she joins them at a séance held by Madame Levalier. During the séance, there is a commotion in the library and when the lights are turned on, Madame Levalier is dead stabbed in the back of the neck with a long sharp hat pin...Just the right incentive for Gemma to spring into action. I leave it to you to read this soft mystery and to come to your own decisions....

I enjoy soft mystery from time to time and I know one by Vicki Delany will answer my wish. Although we have a couple of murders, none are gruesomely described. Of course Gemma was there to help her cop boyfriend with the investigation and as the story builds up we have a touch of the paranormal and a hunt for the whodunit. Everything moves at a steady pace, no rushing around just smoothly said till we reach the surprising reveal. The plot is good and fun to follow.

Gemma is a good character who comes off as a rude, blunt at time but she doesn’t go around bushes and tells it as she see fit. We also have recurrent actors as well as a few new ones to enjoy; they are quite a contrast to Gemma. Readers should enjoy this cast. I simply love Moriarty, the cat.....

This 9th installment works fine as a standalone and should please most lovers of soft, well-said and well plotted mysteries.

In this 9th book in the 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries', bookstore manager/amateur sleuth Gemma Doyle investigates murder at a séance. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

British native Gemma Doyle now lives in the town of West London in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There she co-owns and manages 'The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium' for her Uncle Arthur, a nonagenarian who likes to travel and indulge in his hobbies.

Gemma and her friend Jayne co-own 'Mrs. Hudson's Tearoom', which adjoins the bookstore, and both establishments do a lively business - especially during tourist season.

Gemma prides herself on having Sherlockian powers of observation, and often embroils herself in murder investigations. This sometimes helps Gemma's boyfriend, Police Detective Ryan Ashburton, who occasionally benefits from Gemma's insights.

The story opens during the summer tourist season, and a psychic fair is about to commence in West London. Gemma's friend Donald Morris, a former Sherlock Holmes scholar, plans to attend the fair, and he'd like Gemma to go as well. Donald is an avid fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who - in addition to writing the Sherlock Holmes stories - penned books about spiritualism, psychics, and paranormal phenomena.

For her part, Gemma thinks all fortune tellers and mediums are frauds, and she refuses to accompany Donald to the psychic fair. So Donald goes with Gemma's bookstore assistant Ashleigh, and Ashleigh's mother Bunny Leigh. The threesome enjoy the fair and arrange to attend a séance the next day. With much prodding, Gemma is convinced to go to the séance as well.

*****
The séance takes place in the library of socialite Rebecca Stanton's luxurious home, and thirteen people attend:

👻 Madame Lavalier - the medium, who claims she can contact people beyond the veil.
👻 Mary Moffat - Madame Lavalier's assistant.
👻 Rebecca Stanton - the hostess, who thinks of the séance as harmless entertainment.
👻 Daniel Stanton and his wife Eleanor - Daniel is Rebecca Stanton's stepson; he's angry that his deceased father left him nothing because Daniel always needs money.
👻 Miranda - Rebecca Stanton's niece, who's a student at Harvard; Rebecca is working at 'Mrs. Hudson's Tearoom' for the summer.
👻 Max and Larissa Greenwood - a rich couple who recently lost their son.
👻 Ashleigh - Gemma's vibrant bookstore assistant; Ashleigh is at the séance at the behest of her mother Bunny Leigh.
👻 Bunny Leigh - Ashleigh's mother, who only recently came into her daughter's life; Bunny would like to revive her old fame as a pop star.
👻 Donald Morris - an avid Sherlock Holmes fan who hopes to speak to the spirit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
👻 Jayne Wilson - Gemma's friend, who came along to accompany her chum.
👻 Gemma - Gemma goes to the séance but is asked to leave the library before the activity begins, because her skepticism will stymie the spirits.

****
The lights go off, the participants join hands, and the séance begins - though Gemma has to sit outside and listen at the door. After a time there's a commotion in the library, and when the lights turn on, Madame Lavalier is dead. The psychic has been stabbed in the back of the neck with a long sharp hat pin.

The police come to investigate, but (of course) Gemma can't stifle her detective instincts and launches her own inquiries. In addition to investigating, Gemma goes about her life, as do the other attendees.

Gemma runs her bookshop, walks her dogs, kibitzes with the bookshop cat Moriarty, and has dates with Ryan.
Daniel Stanton tries to convince his step-mother to fund his online menswear business.
Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood dine at the local yacht club.
Jayne prepares pastries and finger sandwiches for her tea shop, and plans her upcoming wedding to restaurateur Andy Whitehall; and so on.
There's another death before the mystery is solved, but Gemma figures it all out in the end.

This is an enjoyable addition to the Gemma Doyle series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Vicki Delany, and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book.

When a psychic fair comes to town, Gemma and her friend/partner Jayne attend a seance as emotional support for a friend. Gemma, of course, is a skeptic so isn’t allowed in the seance. The seance (on a dark and stormy night) is predictable until the medium dies and chaos ensues.
Gemma really is content to give her report to the police and let them do the investigating, but they ask for her insights this time. Of course, she has to help. Another death follows. Are the two deaths related? And what is the motive.
Gemma is becoming more likable with each story. I like the rounding out of her character. This is an enjoyable addition to The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

3 stars. Interesting cozy with a twist: a locked room murder mystery!

Gemma reluctantly runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. When a psychic fair comes to town, she is thrown out of a seance she didn't want to attend. Inside the now locked room, murder ensues and Gemma is thrown into a nifty mystery.

This is my first read in this series so I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. The story moves right along and the seance/psychic fair is a fun set up for the characters to interact with and I thought it was well done.

As usual, the author fooled me completely on who did it. The cat is awesome, so three stars. I was given a copy and this is my honest opinion: fans will love it, newbies will have no trouble figuring out who is who and the mystery is wrapped up very neatly. So, not quite an 'otter' read but a good book to while away an afternoon.

The Sign of Four Spirits has all of the elements to make this an amazing cozy mystery!

Paranormal mysteries are great, and in this story, we find Gemma a psychic sleuthing her way to find a killer. As owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, against her better judgement, she finds herself attending a séance.

But things don't go as planned when she's banned from the event. Just as she stands on the other side of the door listening she hears a scream for help. As she bursts through the door, she finds that someone has collapsed on the table; dead.

Fun read and one I highly recommend!
The game is once again afoot for Gemma Doyle, as she hunts a killer. But, this time, is the killer of flesh and blood or had the medium summoned doom from beyond the veil?

Another interesting trip to the Cape to spend time with Gemma and company. While Gemma really wants nothing to do with the Physic Fair in town, she is dragged in my her association with Bunny, Ashleigh's mother and Donald who loves educating folks on Sherlock Holmes connection to the beyond. While the medium conducting the seance, Ashleigh begs Gemma to attend with her and Bunny, throws her out, you know Gemma won't be far as Donald and Jayne are also inside. When disaster does strike the seance, when murder happens, Gemma is the ears of the event. No matter how hard she tries to distance herself, Gemma just can't turn off her mind and it's a good thing as more murder and choas ensue! Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the chance to read!

A psychic fair has arrived in the town of West London. While Gemma is not interested at all, she agrees to attend a séance held at a private home to support her employee Ashleigh. When entering the room for the séance, Gemma is asked to leave because she is a non-believer. She sits outside the door where she can hear what's happening. She enters the room after she hears an attendee scream. The medium
has been murdered. Which of the attendees is responsible? As Gemma investigates, she discovers connections between the attendees that will lead her to the murderer.
#TheSignofFourSpirits #NetGalley

I've read a few of these Sherlock Holmes Bookshop books and the series seems to get better with each passing book.

I don't usually enjoy mysteries featuring paranormal aspects but I certainly did enjoy this one and its seance.

A very clever plot and, as always, wonderful characters I've come to treasure.

I've never been disappointed with any Vicki Delany/Eva Gates books and this series certainly ranks up there as among her best.

A highly recommended cozy series!!

Another fabulous book by Vicki Delaney/Eva Gates. The first of the Sherlock series for me, but I have added the others to my reading list. Gemma and her friends attend a seance where the medium is murdered. Gemma is an excellent observer and uses this talent to help solve the mystery. Great read!

I am always thrilled to know that a new book written by Vicki Delany will be published. I am also very thankful that she writes 4 books a year from her cozy mystery series.

I must say that I have never been disappointed in any of her books, and I immerse myself into her worlds, and bond with the beloved (and those who aren’t) characters that she so brilliantly describes.

When I read that this book contained a séance, and possibly some paranormal content, I was cautious, because I normally shy away from such themes. I was so pleasantly surprised that this book was written in such a clever way that I “forgot” that I don’t like paranormal themes. It is so easy to get hooked on Vicki’s stories, and this one was no exception. The only downside is that it was such a quick read…now I wait for her next book…

I highly recommend this 9th. book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries, and if you have not read the previous books, I encourage you to try and start from the first book…you will get hooked!

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this book and post a personal review and review.

Release Date: January 9, 2024
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When a psychic fair arrives on Cape Cod, Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, wants nothing to do with it. However she finds herself attending a séance, along with Jayne (her best friend), Ashleigh (her shop clerk) and former pop star Bunny Leigh. Once they arrive, Gemma finds herself banned from the séance. Curiosity piqued, she listens in from outside the room. Gemma hears a cry for help, a scream. Gemma bursts in the door to find a body. The windows are all locked, and Gemma was guarding the only door. Someone in this room is a murderer. But who? The game is once again afoot for Gemma Doyle, as she hunts a killer. But, this time, is the killer of flesh and blood or had the medium summoned doom from beyond the veil?

#thesignoffourspirits is the ninth book in the #sherlockholmesbookshopmystery series. I adore this series. Gemma is brilliant and often sees details that others (including the detectives) miss. Jayne is as always an excellent Watson! Once again I missed all the clues and had no idea as to the events until the reveal. I love that I am always surprised by @vicki.delany choice of killers! Her books are always five stars for me so I highly recommend this series! Start at the beginning if you haven’t read them before, you’ll appreciate the development of the characters!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#thesignoffourspirits #vickidelany #capecod
#sherlockholmes #lockeddoormystery #crookedlanebooks #netgalleyreads #cozymystery #capecodreads #bookreview #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagram #bookworm #booknerd #booktok #bookrecommendations #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookblogger #igreads #goodreads #bookclub #bookreviews #bookblog

The Sign of Four Spirits is the latest Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery and can be read as a standalone with the only hit coming from losing some familiarity with the main characters. A psychic/spiritual fair has arrived in West London and business is good for Gemma Doyle as the town’s Sherlock expert directs fans to Arthur Conan Doyle’s books on spiritualism. A psychic fair is incomplete without a seance and Gemma is rope in to attending one by her young assistant. When the medium is murdered, Gemma’s keen powers of observation and deduction leads her investigation into the case opening up leads for the police in an unpredictable case that only Gemma sees the connections on. Memorable characters and a Sherlockian like female detective lead a well written whodunnit that leaves you guessing. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Another great cozy mystery that I really enjoyed. I loved the characters, they made me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy inside as I read along solving the mystery.

Honest to goodness, each time I read a new Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery by Vicki Delany it becomes my fave in the series - The Sign of Four Spirits is the latest installment, and did not disappoint! Gemma and Jayne participate (reluctantly, I might add!) in a seance when a psychic fair comes to West London, and when the medium is murdered in the middle of the event, the game is afoot and Gemma's on the case! New and recurring characters add to the charm of this delightful cozy mystery, and I found it quite entertaining - 5 stars!!!!!

Mysteries with psychics in the plot are not my favorite and sometimes I skip that installment in a series. However I rested assured that this time Gemma would be as skeptic of them as I am. :)

I love these books, and this latest one was awesome. The characters are so enjoyable, ( who wouldn't want to be friends with Gemma???), the plot moved quickly, and had some nice little twists in there. Overall a fun, fast paced, cozy mystery. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommend. Can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.